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Governing Board Action: April 11, 2003

At today’s monthly NOACA Governing Board meeting, members amended the State Fiscal Year 2002-2005 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to include the following projects:

  • Construction of medians and pedestrian crossings on Bagley Road from Front Street to Eastland Road in the City of Berea, Cuyahoga County

  • Construction of a recreational trail (Waterfront Walk) in downtown Elyria in Lorain County

  • Renovation and restoration of the Gasholder House as a welcoming center and Underground Railroad Museum in the City of Oberlin, Lorain County

These projects, earmarked to receive Transportation and Community and System Preservation funds, were identified in the federal appropriations bill for Federal Fiscal Year 2003 signed in February by President Bush.

NOACA staff presented highlights of House Bill 87 – Ohio’s Transportation Budget Bill. The following points were highlighted in the presentation:
  • Total budget - $4.65 billion for the 2004-2005 state fiscal year

  • Budget includes a gas tax increase of 2 cents each year for three years

  • State and Federal funding assumes a one percent increase in motor fuel consumption, along with an additional bonding of $240 million for the biennium

  • Last of ODOT internal savings and prior year state revenue will be used in fiscal year 2004 to fund the capital program.

  • The Major New Construction Program will be maintained at $250 million because of the increase in the gas tax. Without the additional revenue, the Major New Construction Program would have been $0 in 2005.

  • Funding for the basic preservation of the state highway system increases three percent annually from approximately $676 million in 2003 to $700 million in 2004 and 2005.

Ohio Department of Transportation project manager Craig Hebebrand also updated Governing Board members on the progress of the Cleveland Innerbelt Study. ODOT is currently considering four different alternatives for reconstructing/reconfiguring the innerbelt. These are hybrid alternatives blended from eight concepts identified earlier in the study process. For more information on the four alternative scenarios, visit the Cleveland Innerbelt web site, www.innerbelt.org.